Tag: Barrons

by Mike Pavlichko

Woodbridge looks to overcome obstacles when Barrons travel to Edison on Opening Day

One could consider the wipeout of the 2020 season by the COVID pandemic an equalizer, putting everyone on the same playing field. No one got to play high school baseball last year.

But from district to district, as things played out, some were left facing bigger obstacles than others.

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Take Woodbridge. Though the Last Dance Baseball Tournament – organized by St. Joseph-Metuchen coach and Athletic Director Mike Murray – was meant to give seniors one last go ’round, others played, too.

But not the Barrons. It looked for a while like there might be some type of Mayor’s Cup series between Woodbridge, Colonia and JFK, but that never materialized.

Fast forward to 2020, where the NJSIAA made every effort possible to have a “normal” season since the Spring was the only season entirely cancelled last year, and the Barrons already have had a COVID pause. Their pitchers and catchers – more than half the team – all were in quarantine due to contact tracing, and only recently were able to resume practicing.

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And then there’s Mike Monaco, who wouldn’t normally have to do the juggling act he’s doing now: handling the confluence of wrestling and baseball seasons, which are overlapping after wrestling was moved to start later in the winter season. He’s both the baseball and wrestling head coach.

Woodbridge head coach Mike Monaco talks to Mike Pavlichko of Central Jersey Sports Radio about the pandemic shutdown in 2020, how his team handled it, and what to expect from the Barrons in 2021.

Woodbridge travels to take on Edison Monday on the first Opening Day for high school baseball in New Jersey in two years. It’s also the debut broadcast of Greater Middlesex Conference Baseball on Central Jersey Sports Radio.

LIVE coverage begins at 3:40 pm, with first pitch at 4:00. And you can listen by clicking here. Mike Pavlichko and Chris Tsakonas will call all the action. Game sponsors include Derby Appliance, Edison Boys Baseball League, and Ideal Tire Systems of Edison.

by Mike Pavlichko

Central Jersey Sports Radio will debut LIVE H.S. baseball coverage on Opening Day next Monday

Monday, April 19th, will be the first Opening Day for high school baseball in New Jersey in two years, with last year’s entire season wiped out due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

And when the 2021 season begins, Central Jersey Sports Radio will be on hand, kicking off its season coverage.

We’ll begin the slate with a matchup of GMC White Divsion teams, when Edison entertains Woodbridge at 4:00 Monday afternoon. Mike Pavlichko and Chris Tsakonas will call all the live play-by-play at, which you can hear by clicking here. Tentative air time is 3:50 pm from the Boulevard of the Eagles, at the school’s brand-new red turf field.

Athletic Director David Sandaal says the field was under construction last winter and would have been ready to go during the 2021 season.

That season that never materialized. Though some Last Dance baseball tournament games were played there, Monday will be the first time Edison High School’s baseball team gets to take the field.

Sandaal says several dignitaries will be on hand.

Central Jersey Sports Radio will add additional games to the broadcast schedule throughout the season, and Mike Pavlichko will report from other games throughout the year as well.

CJSR also plans to broadcast live from Ray Cipperly Field for the Greater Middlesex Conference Torunament Semifinals and Finals, to be held in late May and early June.

For local businesses interested in sponsoring and supporting live high school baseball coverage on Central Jersey Sports Radio, please contact founder and owner Mike Pavlichko via email, at mike@cjsportsradio.com.

by Mike Pavlichko

No. 2 Somerville upends No. 1 Woodbridge to remain unbeaten, hand Barrons first loss

Everyone said Ali Lee Jr. of Woodbridge needed a lot of carries and a lot of yards to beat Somerville.

They forgot about Cookie Desiderio.

The pair rushed 32 times each, but Desiderio’s 270 yards were the difference for the Pioneers, who finished the game with 19 unanswered points, as No. 2 Somerville remained undefeated (7-0) with a 39-26 win over No. 1 Woodbridge, handing the Barrons (5-1) their first loss of the season, in the “Big Central Game of the Week” powered by Bellamy & Son Paving.

Desiderio ran for the first score of the game – a 50-yard touchdown dash – and added a 66-yard run, 1-run yard, and a 40-yard ramble – the latter two of which came on a three-TD run by the Pioneers to tie the game with 11:13 to play, take the lead with 9:28 to go, and put it away 1:52 remaining.

Somerville QB Mike Miller was 13-of-28 passing for 141 yards, a touchdown and an interception, while Jaimen Bryant had 9 catches for 128 yards as the Pioneers displayed a balanced attack.

Lee Jr. finished the game with 139 yards on 32 carries, and three touchdowns.

Click below to listen to the entire game:

1st Half

2nd Half